APPRENTICE

APPRENTICE, one who is bound by Covenant to serve a Tradesman, or Artificer a certain Time; usually seven Years; upon Condition of the Master’s instructing him in his Art or Mystery. See TRADE, COVENANT, AGE, etc. Sir Thomas Smith says, that Apprentices are a kind of Bondmen, or Slaves, differing only in this that they are Servants by Covenant, and for a time. de Rep. Anglor. Lib. 3. See SERVANT, SLAVE, etc. Antiently, Benchers in the Inns of Court were called Apprentices of the Law, in Latin apprenticii juris nobiles, as appears by Mr. Selden’s Notes on Fortescue: and so the eminent Plowden styles himself. Sir Henry Finch in his Nomotechnia writes himself Apprentice de Ley: Sir Edward Coke in his Institutes says, Apprenticii Legis in pleading are called Homines consiliarii, i.e., Legis periti; and in another place, Apprentices and other Counsellors of Law.

APPRENTICE